patriotism, nationalism

patriotism today, more than ever before, borders on nationalism. these mediated times produce strange reactions in a system built on a foundation of inequality and a veneer of egalite.

Mulk Raj Anand had penned, "The emotion of nationalism is the most dangerous and undesirable when it becomes self-assertive, as it tends to be more irrational." he hoped we might "acquire an understanding of the (')composite(') nature of indian culture, we may be able to take a leap from the chauvinistic belief in the superiority of our land to ... accepting the many strains that went to make our nation - a nation which is the sum total of all the nationalities, subsisting, side by side with each other, practicing the values of mutual aid and live and let live..."

63 years on, for this country in particular, what a dream or ideal it remains..